The last Saturday of May, our whole family (plus other Silicon Valley Moms) set out to The Tech to see Bill Nye the Science Guy thanks to Activeion. (Perhaps you caught a few of my photos of the event on my main blog?) My first thought was more about the family fun at the museum (and meeting Bill Nye!) but I quickly became interested in the actual product - and have since put it to the test in many situations.
When I heard of Activeion before the presentation, I thought it was a device that would heat up water to then assist in cleaning. I wondered how "safe" that would be even if there were no harsh chemicals involved. But then within moments of the presentation starting, one of the Activeion executives sprayed himself in the mouth. Minutes later, so did Bill Nye the Science Guy. Hey, they weren't gagging!
The Activeion uses cold tap water - and magically charges the ions in said water to attract the gunk on your counter, on your carpet, or even on your skin. (One of the Activeion execs said his daughter uses it to remove her makeup.)
No, it isn't hot. No, the charged ions do not create some caustic situation for humans. Run away if you are dirt, but even then, you'll just be swept carefully onto a soft microfiber cloth.
I was thrilled to receive my own Activeion to take home for free - and I'm happy to report that I have another to give away to a reader who is also interested in giving this terrific technology a shot.
Because it uses plain tap water, this device is eco-friendly and safe. There are no harsh chemicals, and there is no need to continue to purchase bottles of soap - so Activeion is recession-friendly as well. (The initial purchase price may seem daunting at $299 - but consider all the different products at $5 and higher that end up in the shopping cart nearly every week.) No "running out of cleaner" mid-job - just turn on your tap to refill the Activeion chamber to continue cleaning.
Some time ago, I was begging people for recommendations on carpet cleaners. The response was crickets. None have worked for me. All that happens is a bunch of soap ends up stuck in the carpet fibers - soap which then attracts dirt, right onto the carpet. And so, although I was curious as to how Activion would perform on my countertops, my real target was the little black spots on my white carpet.
And what-do-you-know, they came up!
A couple cycles of spray-then-wipe, and the spots really did lift
Now, I haven't erased all the spots, because to do so would be time consuming. (I am praying that Activeion creates a mega-sized carpet-cleaning gadget that would use the same technology.) In the meantime, I'll do little blocks at a time. But the important thing is that when a spill occurs I'll be able to get it up before the dreaded carpet stain occurs.
Thanks to Spliggle's surgery last week (the additional messy food and medicine load with tired people and a weak, shaky boy) plus a stomach flu situation at the same time, I've had plenty of opportunity to use the Activeion on new messes. But I've been pretty darn impressed with its job on the old messes as well.
Voilà, the Vase:
In most cases for the dried-on stuff, it required several cycles of "spray then wipe" - but this is absolutely to be expected. The gunk came up much more readily than with other methods, and I'd rather use a little elbow grease than a harsh chemical anyway. For my refrigerator, I used to employ hot water in an attempt to melt the gunk. Of course, in the refrigerated environment, hot quickly became cold. I really didn't want to spray harsh things directly onto my refrigerator, but even when I did the resulting mess took quite a bit of scrubbing to clean. The Activeion cleaned my fridge in less than five minutes. I'm not kidding.
I know I sound like an infomercial. But here's the deal: I've received other cleaners before, but they haven't shown up on this blog because they haven't worked. At last year's BlogHer conference, I eagerly picked up a carpet cleaning system for free -- but all it did was embed powdery smells-like-moldy-flowers bits in my carpet that I still smell nearly a year later. (So no, I didn't plug it on my blog.) And so, when I find something that works, I gush.
And gush about Activeion, I will.
Another problem I've had in the cleaning arena is those precious stuffed animals. Most contain a little tag that reads "spot clean only" and yet if a child throws up on them, defecates on them, or otherwise creates a disastrous mess, a "spot clean" is exceptionally difficult to pull off. We are advised to "dab with water" (which is the same not-really-working advice most people give on other porous surfaces like upholstery or carpet.) Water in its regular form alone can't cut it. And a soap-based cleaner isn't a good idea since there is no way to rinse the soap out - and any residue would be very close to a child (if not in the child's mouth.)
Here is Big Doggy - who has had several little who-knows-what stains on his paws that have remained there forever (and I am not so cruel as to throw him in the trash pile, yet I cringe when the kids actually snuggle up to him.)
Big Doggy is now clean - hallelujah!
When Splig lost the contents of his lunch last week on the couch, Activeion helped me wipe it up in a flash. Once we gave him a puke-pan, I got a little system of two vessels going on, where I'd rinse out the used one - Activeion it to sanitize - and then replace it when called into duty. The pans were clean and didn't smell from the prior use.
I could go on and on about the different things I've tried with Activeion - and yet I know there are more - like my car dash, various things outdoors that always seem to have water-spots or streaks, and the shower. (One of my favorite uses for Activeion is those seemingly always grubby doorknobs and crown molding. I can spray and wipe once and the gunk is gone.)
If you are interested in winning one of your own, simply leave a comment below. You can tell me about your hardest cleaning challenge, or anything else that shows how you'd really appreciate an Activeion. Leave your comments by June 20th. The winner will be determined using random.org on or about that date. Please make sure to leave an email address with your comment so I can reach you if you win!
Good luck - the winner will be very lucky, I can attest!
--
Yes, Activeion gave me a unit for free. Blogging about it is optional, but I chose to do it because I really do believe this product works well - and because I thought it would be terrific to give away another unit to a reader. Activeion also paid our way to the Tech museum and gave us a yummy lunch. No additional compensation will be provided to me (aside from the giveaway - which will go directly to the winner) because I chose to blog about this product. They would not have hunted me down and made me give back the unit if I hadn't blogged about it. They are nice people.
--
Thank you all for your entries -- the winner will be chosen (via random.org) and notified (via email) shortly!
Comments (52)
I would absolutely love this. I have a little one who is all over the place, and I'm constantly finding mystery spots on the floors. I'd love to have something that gets them up, other than her hands and knees! :-)
Thank you!
danyellalee at gmail dot com
Posted by Danielle | June 8, 2009 7:11 PM
Posted on June 8, 2009 19:11
Oh, I really want to try this. First, I'm a total geek and love anything geeky like this.
Second, I have a child who is ultra-sensitive to chemicals, which makes using any cleaning products difficult without fear that her bare skin might touch someplace the chemicals have been, resulting in an itchy rash. Even many of the Method cleaners bother her nose - the smell is too much for her.
We also have two bulimic cats and wall-to-wall carpeting. Combine two messy kids with two vomiting cats and you have plenty of small carpet stains and wall drawings that need lots of cleaning.
So yeah, I'd LOVE to try this out. I need a better solution for my sensitive family.
Posted by Christina | June 8, 2009 8:21 PM
Posted on June 8, 2009 20:21
That's what I'm talkin' about.
Around the bathroom and carpet pet stains wouldn't have a chance.
No mask needed.
Posted by Casey | June 8, 2009 8:25 PM
Posted on June 8, 2009 20:25
Recently we got rid of a majority of the carpet in our upstairs because we never could get it completely clean (with 3 cats, cleaning carpet isn't the easiest task). The only room with have carpet in now is our bedrooms and because both are stained, we are considering getting new carpet. This may save us hundreds of dollars. I hope I win. :)
Posted by Ilissa H. | June 8, 2009 9:09 PM
Posted on June 8, 2009 21:09
Effective and eco-friendly? I'm in!
Posted by Azul | June 8, 2009 9:59 PM
Posted on June 8, 2009 21:59
As a technology teacher, I am TOTALLY into new tech gagets. As a mom of 2 young kids, I am TOTALLY into safe, fast, effective cleaning. Thanks for offering this!
Posted by Jill | June 9, 2009 3:17 AM
Posted on June 9, 2009 03:17
Wow this sounds great! I think I could use it in the bathroom that seems to get dirty on a daily basis with boys in the house!
Posted by Huguette E. | June 9, 2009 3:21 AM
Posted on June 9, 2009 03:21
Hey, that's cool! I could use that on the shower curtain. It's not very eco-friendly to keep throwing them out and buying new ones when they get all gunky. Oh, and the wall behind the stove, ew.
Posted by deb | June 9, 2009 4:47 AM
Posted on June 9, 2009 04:47
I have 4 cats and a puppy. There always seems to be some sort of mess to clean up on my floors. It's hard to find products that are safe for my pets and that actually work! I would love the Activeion!
Posted by jil | June 9, 2009 6:05 AM
Posted on June 9, 2009 06:05
We have carpet issues too. I would love this for spot cleaning our carpets. We have little ones (a five year old and twin 2 year olds) and our carpet was already pretty worn and stained when we moved in to our place. I would love to try this on those old stains. And the window frames-we have old one pane metal windows and mold loves to grow around them. I bet this would really help with that.
Posted by Cassie | June 9, 2009 7:35 AM
Posted on June 9, 2009 07:35
Well let me tell you...my 2 year old sure does get into everything! one day not too long ago he took a whole carton of eggs and smushed them all over the linoleum, walls, carpet, fridge, you name it and there was egg on it. I tell ya if this thing can make cleaning up runny gross EGG easier...Its worth EVERY penny and then some!
b_carter84@yahoo.com
Posted by Becky | June 9, 2009 7:49 AM
Posted on June 9, 2009 07:49
Oh I would absolutely love to be able to try such a fantastically tech-y cleaning solution! My hubby and I are huge nerds that way. Plus we have a cat who sometimes causes messes(!) so I would love to know I had something safe for both the cat and us to use around the house. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Posted by Tania Bugnet | June 9, 2009 8:05 AM
Posted on June 9, 2009 08:05
Oh i would so love this! my walls are all a mess since my kids like writing on them and doing all kinds of stuff to them, so this would come in handy! perfect!
Posted by nurinia melville | June 9, 2009 8:31 AM
Posted on June 9, 2009 08:31
We're renters not home owners and I'm trying to keep this place really nice w/ 2 kids and a messy husband. I would love to have this help me get our deposit back.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
Posted by Bebemiqui | June 9, 2009 9:14 AM
Posted on June 9, 2009 09:14
Well I have a dog (baby) in the house and she sheds hair on everything, plays and carrys food all on the arpet and such. So I could really use this to clean upholstry and carpet in my home.
Posted by carolyn | June 9, 2009 9:54 AM
Posted on June 9, 2009 09:54
Uhhh, cleaning the car after a camping trip with a dog!!! Ewww! This sounds perfect.
Posted by Sara | June 9, 2009 10:42 AM
Posted on June 9, 2009 10:42
I'd really like to try this. A lot of the cleaners out on the market give me headaches when I use them (I'm very sensitive to the fumes). This would be the perfect alternative.
Posted by zakka life | June 9, 2009 10:43 AM
Posted on June 9, 2009 10:43
Wow! This just might be the weirdest (but neatest!) thing I've heard of in a while!! I so want it. I just think it would be so fun to use!
Posted by Celeste | June 9, 2009 12:45 PM
Posted on June 9, 2009 12:45
This would be awesome! I have a 1 1/2 yr. old dog that has congenital ciliary dysfunction that makes him predisposed to illness. I need to keep the entire house as clean and non-toxic as possible to keep him healthy. This technology is a Godsend!
Posted by Ashley Black | June 9, 2009 1:05 PM
Posted on June 9, 2009 13:05
Wow this is a wondrous giveaway. I hope that having four kids, a granddaughter, a cat, and a messy husband says all you need to knwo about why i want to win this. The house takes a beating, I could even use it to spray down the kids, right? LOL
Posted by Carol | June 9, 2009 1:11 PM
Posted on June 9, 2009 13:11
this sounds simply amazing! I admit to still being skeptical, but not so much as I would have been if I hadn't been using the Wonder Ball in my washing machine with great success for about a month now... ion cleaners do work... I don't understand how, but they do and I would love to add this to my home!
Posted by tawnda | June 9, 2009 2:00 PM
Posted on June 9, 2009 14:00
I'd love to try this on these annoying stains I have on my carpet, thanks to my 2 small children. Thanks for the review. Your pictures speak a thousand words.
Posted by Nad | June 9, 2009 2:12 PM
Posted on June 9, 2009 14:12
I think that anything Bill Nye was selling would be worth it. He is awesome. We rent his videos at the library all the time. This looks like an awesome product. I am sure that it would be helpful in my household with two young mess producing boys.
Posted by Amy | June 9, 2009 2:28 PM
Posted on June 9, 2009 14:28
Wow..if it can do all of what you claim...I would be in HEAVEN!!! Lucky me has two adorable (MESSY) boys..and one loyal (slobbery) dog...and do I need to mention the mechanic husband...who leaves me greasy fingerprint trails so I can find him in the house.... I am dreaming clean toxic free house!!...
Posted by Barbara | June 9, 2009 4:09 PM
Posted on June 9, 2009 16:09
We'd LOVE this! Just moved homes and are looking for eco-friendly ways to keep our now almost-white carpet clean..yikes. :-)
Thanks!
Posted by Rachel | June 10, 2009 9:07 AM
Posted on June 10, 2009 09:07
I really need this because I have two messy little loves running around my home! Thanks for the chance, it sounds wonderful!
:)
Posted by Kim | June 10, 2009 11:41 PM
Posted on June 10, 2009 23:41
2 cats and a toddler...I need this!
Posted by Steph | June 11, 2009 5:22 PM
Posted on June 11, 2009 17:22
This is a good product, but there is another product out there making similar claims of converting tap water into a cleaner and sanitizer. The lotus home cleaning system has been around for over 3 years now and does a lot more than the Activeion, for about half the price. Let's face it, even tap water will clean, but the lotus takes tap water and infuses it with an extra oxygen atom to create an all natural oxidizer, so that you can clean just like Mother Nature does.
For those that really care, the lotus goes one step further and has valid kill claims (we don't just wipe it away) on just about every bacteria and virus out there. On top of that, it kills mold and mildew, removes ANY stain in carpets or upholstery better than chemicals and even deodorizes!
The lotus is truly the one cleaning machine that will let you eliminate every cleaning product in your home, not just half of them...
Posted by Steve Hengsperger | June 12, 2009 11:20 AM
Posted on June 12, 2009 11:20
i do 99% of the cleaning in my house and i'd love to try this!
Posted by sarah | June 14, 2009 10:45 AM
Posted on June 14, 2009 10:45
I really like this product! I hate the way the other products smell!!!!
Posted by Laura | June 15, 2009 7:38 AM
Posted on June 15, 2009 07:38
I saw this product on Ellen and i was intrigued so i searched for reviews on this product. I have 11 grandchildren under the age of 4 so being sanitary is a must. I would love to try this product in my home!
Posted by Kathryn Morgans | June 15, 2009 9:27 AM
Posted on June 15, 2009 09:27
Amazing product! Spot removal is one of my favorite challenges. I'm wondering if it would work on those stubborn laundry stains. Would it work on those antiperspirant underarm stains on white shirts? I Love that it cleans without chemicals! I too would love to see a carpet cleaner version of this!
judy7885 at gmail dot com
Posted by juau4 | June 15, 2009 6:30 PM
Posted on June 15, 2009 18:30
I've got two messy boys, 4 and 2. To give you some idea of what I'm up against, last week my 4-year-old son decided to give his brother a bottle of maple syrup "to see what would happen." (Answer: nothing at all good.) I had to rent a carpet cleaner from the grocery store to clean that mess up. Syrup science experiments aside, I feel like I have to have the carpets cleaned in this house at least twice a year, not even to keep them looking nice, just to prevent them from looking like, "Oh my god, how do you stand living like this?" I'd love to have a safe, natural and effective way to clean up the little spills that happen round-the-clock here. (Because frankly, I'm kind of a klutz myself, and a few of those little coffee stains that I blamed on the kids might be from me...)
Posted by Katy | June 17, 2009 10:00 AM
Posted on June 17, 2009 10:00
I would love one of these! I can think of so many places to use it!
Posted by erika | June 17, 2009 10:24 AM
Posted on June 17, 2009 10:24
Well shiver me timbers, that looks pretty cool! We no longer have our dogs, but they left behind some lovely stains on the carpets that need to go. And with 2 kids who have friends come over who spill junk on our downstairs carpet, yeah, this could come in handy! I won't even mention the messes that are happening now because of a 2.5 year old who insists on peeing standing up!
I'm not showing a picture of my refrigerator though. Too embarrassing. :)
Posted by Bill | June 17, 2009 12:11 PM
Posted on June 17, 2009 12:11
We should've gotten our sofa and love seat in easy-to-clean microsuede instead of duck twill, but we got them in 2002, before I got used to the idea of microsuede.
I shouldn't have done the calligraphy for my friend's wedding in the living room. Even after a professional cleaning and my mom's elbow grease and dish soap efforts, there's a big black splotch on the front of the sofa from where I spilled a bottle of ink.
We should've gotten slipcovers before we had a baby. Possibly plastic ones. Epic reflux and brown medicine = strange stains all over the furniture.
We REALLY should've bought slipcovers before Claire was old enough to play with crayons, carry food into the living room, and have diaper leaks on the sofa.
At this point, the poor sofa and love seat (the most expensive things we own aside from the house and cars) are looking VERY gross. I tried Oxyclean and every other non-toxic cleaner, but you just can't clean upholstery effectively.
And don't get me started on our carpet!
If we win, and the Activeion can save us from having to reupholster the furniture before their time (which we can't afford, anyway), I'd cry with joy. Real tears. I'd send you a photo.
Posted by Kathy | June 17, 2009 1:22 PM
Posted on June 17, 2009 13:22
I'd love to win one!
Posted by Kyla | June 17, 2009 2:04 PM
Posted on June 17, 2009 14:04
I am really curious about this. I have seen something similar which used electrically charged salt water, but the devise which charged the water was huge and expensive.
Posted by Mark | June 18, 2009 9:43 AM
Posted on June 18, 2009 09:43
I am absolutely convinced that having a clean carpet makes our whole house look cleaner - and, unfortunately, it seldom seems to happen. There's always another spot on the floor I can't get out and no way of hiding it under furniture!
Posted by Mika | June 18, 2009 10:49 PM
Posted on June 18, 2009 22:49
o wow i was impressed with your pictures i have a 2 and 3 year old and i spend a fortune on cleaners especially for are carpet and they dont lift spots as good thanks for the chance to win such an awesome product thanks again
Posted by tina reynolds | June 19, 2009 1:22 PM
Posted on June 19, 2009 13:22
My husband and son are dirt magnets. Either can walk through the house and I suddenly have mud on the floor, kool aid in the carpet and smudges on the wall. This would be so nice. I need help cleaning up after these guys.
Posted by Lisa H | June 19, 2009 7:42 PM
Posted on June 19, 2009 19:42
What a great giveaway! I could definitely use one of these. I have had several shoulder surgeries and, therefore, it's hard for me to clean things very well. To have some help would be wonderful! I hate thinking that I haven't cleaned something completely because I don't have the strength in my arm. Thanks for the opportunity!
annasmama0702@gmail.com
Posted by Courtney | June 20, 2009 4:43 AM
Posted on June 20, 2009 04:43
I honestly think that the Activeion sounds like a miracle machine! My biggest challenge cleaning is the downstairs family room. The carpet is really hard to keep clean! It seems like that's the room that always gets spilled in!
It would be great to take on vacation too! This summer we are traveling to Kentucky by car...there are bound to be some spills! I really don't want my StellaRockafella (that's my Suburbans name) interior looking horrible!
I could think of so many uses...and who knows...it would probably encourage my son to help out a bit more! :)
Thanks for the chance!
seeryusfam@msn.com
Posted by Sky | June 20, 2009 7:19 AM
Posted on June 20, 2009 07:19
Wow, I've never heard of this product but I definitely could use it! With two kids and a dog, we have all kinds of spots that appear (on the furniture, carpet, etc) and just need that extra help to get rid of them. Thanks!
Posted by xenia | June 20, 2009 9:11 AM
Posted on June 20, 2009 09:11
I have asthma and allergies. And even when I bulk up on my medicines, the spray cleaners stink and I my breathing always gets constricted when I use them. I then have to stop and rest until the symptoms subside. This makes the time for any cleaning task twice as long. In the past year or so, I bought the Lady Bug with Tancs steam cleaner. It is a great product albeit expensive. I really can only use it in the winter since it heats up water (consuming electricity) and it is not very comfortable to use when it's 97 degrees outside and the generated steam is competing with the air conditioner. I would definitely love to have the Activion Pro spray cleaner. And I hope impatiently that Activeion and/or Tennant will also produce a ec-H20 hard floor and carpet cleaner for the home.
Posted by Robyn | June 20, 2009 12:20 PM
Posted on June 20, 2009 12:20
I would use it for my dorm room and to remove make-up!
Posted by Andi | June 20, 2009 5:23 PM
Posted on June 20, 2009 17:23
I have a husband, a 9 month old, and a dog- I have tons of cleaning!! Plus, I love that it's eco-friendly!!
Posted by Devon | June 20, 2009 6:48 PM
Posted on June 20, 2009 18:48
I'd like to use this on the tough to clean walk-in shower!
Posted by renee | June 20, 2009 7:08 PM
Posted on June 20, 2009 19:08
I've never heard of this before, but it sounds great. Please enter me.
iluvchrisnlevi@aol.com
Posted by lisa | June 20, 2009 7:23 PM
Posted on June 20, 2009 19:23
I have a dog, 2 cats, a kindergarten aged boy. I would love this.
Posted by Karina | June 20, 2009 8:26 PM
Posted on June 20, 2009 20:26
I would love this as I am new to this gadgets. Thanks for this giveaway.
Posted by Rajee | June 20, 2009 8:34 PM
Posted on June 20, 2009 20:34
This would be perfect for my family, I have a light carpet that stains so easily and I could really use a product like this in our home.
Posted by Connie | June 20, 2009 9:13 PM
Posted on June 20, 2009 21:13